Bowdens Silver

Support

I have owned farming property along Lawson Creek for approximately 10 years where I run fat lambs and produce Lucerne and /or oaten hay. This small farm is a significant part of my retirement plan. I have a 69 megalitre unmetered water licence and pay an annual levy to retain this licence, however because of the continuing dry conditions I have acted responsibly and am yet to irrigate from what is already a creek system under significant stress. The proposal to include a sizable tailings dam, sourcing water from Lawson Creek and within close proximity to Lawson Creek is extremely concerning. In my opinion, based on expert advice I have listened to and read, this mining proposal poses an unacceptable risk of toxifying the creek and water table all the way down stream, affecting both the ecology of the creek system, stock and household water supplies and the sustainability of agricultural interests along Lawson Creek. Therefore there is an unacceptably high risk that contamination of the water supply could have catastrophic ecological and ensuing financial consequences to the many rate and tax payers who depend upon the quantity and quality of water flowing down Lawson Creek. Furthermore, the recent drought has proven emphatically that Lawson Creek is already becoming a fragile ecosystem and water supply. Thus the regular extraction of significant volumes of water from Lawson Creek (and/or its catchment area) pose an unacceptably high risk to all the various forms of agriculture along the length of the Creek, and possibly beyond. Therefore, I strongly object to this mining proposal.

I object to the Bowdens Silver project. My submission is attached.

I believe the project would be of benefit to the people of Mudgee and surrounding towns because of:-
1/ Employment for the local community’s, regional towns rely on local jobs for them to survive and prosper.
2/ Sponsorship and support of local community groups including sporting groups etc.
3/ Mudgee has a reliance on coal and with its future uncertainty these towns need to diversify to maintain their growth into the future.
4/ Sensitivity to community concerns in the local area, being responsible by going over and above legislated requirements keeping the project as low impact as possible
5/ More production and oversight of valuable resources in Australia and less reliance of foreign commodities.

In general regional towns rely on these type of projects that if done responsibly have a great impact on keeping towns prosperous and growing, creating community benefits for people and businesses into the future with the certainty they provide.
Therefore I believe the project should go ahead.